to expand the offshore processing regime currently applying to offshore entry persons and transitory persons to include all persons arriving at mainland Australia unlawfully by sea on or after 13 April 2006. Also provides for: the exemption of certain persons not intended to be caught by the regime, including New Zealand citizens, permanent residents of Norfolk Island and persons brought to Australia purely for

Customs Act 1901

purposes; an independent review of the operation of the amendments in the bill, after two years; and offshore processing arrangements to revert to those in place previously, after five years.

to: abolish temporary protection visas; ensure that detention of children is a last resort; provide for judicial review of immigration detention; limit the period of time that asylum seekers are detained; and provide for the Federal Court to impose on detainees certain conditions of release.

Introduced with the Medical Indemnity Legislation Amendment (Run-off Cover Indemnity and Other Measures) Bill 2004, the bill imposes the run-off cover support payment as a levy on the premium income received by insurers for medical indemnity cover. Also contains a regulation-making power.

to introduce a run-off cover indemnity scheme to cover the cost of medical indemnity claims against eligible practitioners after they have retired or are not participating in the private medical workforce, which will be funded by a levy on medical indemnity insurers (the run-off cover support payment); and the

Medical Indemnity Act 2002

to enable a claims protocol to be determined to cover the payment of expenses arising from incurred but not reported indemnity scheme claims. Also repeals the

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The House of Representatives Selection Committee and the Senate Selection of Bills Committee routinely consider whether bills should be referred to committees for inquiry and report. The House Committee reports its determinations to the chamber, while the Senate Committee makes recommendations which the Senate may then adopt. Bills may also be referred to committees by either chamber or by the relevant minister to House and joint committees.